• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Grizzlies take care of Blazers with late run

Feb 23, 2015 - 4:40 AM Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - Marc Gasol deposited 21 points with six rebounds and four assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies in a 98-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.

Courtney Lee had 19 points, while Mike Conley and Zach Randolph each added 15 points. Conley dished out eight assists and Randolph grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Memphis, which opened the second half of the season with a loss at Oklahoma City on Friday, has won the first three meetings with Portland this season with the finale of the series taking place on March 21 at FedExForum.

The Blazers were playing without LaMarcus Aldridge because of a right thumb sprain.

Damian Lillard chipped in 18 points to lead the hosts and Nicolas Batum posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the loss. The Blazers had their four-game home winning streak snapped.

Kosta Koufos and Gasol each scored four points during a 12-0 surge that pushed the Grizzlies ahead, 87-85, with 4:14 on the clock. Batum then fired in a 3- pointer moments later to move the Blazers in front by one with under three to play.

Lee responded, however, with a three-point play and Memphis locked down on defense down the stretch. Conley worked a pick-and-roll with Gasol, who finished the play with an elbow jumper for a 94-90 lead with 30 seconds left. Steve Blake was stuffed by Conley at the other end before Lee dropped in a pair of free throws which essentially sealed the outcome.

Memphis went scoreless for the final 2:43 of the first quarter, then Chris Kaman ended nearly 3 1/2 minutes of scoreless basketball for Portland with a layup that just beat the buzzer to give it a 21-19 lead.

The Blazers opened the second quarter on an 11-2 run that stretched the margin to double digits, but Jeff Green capped a 15-1 burst for the Grizzlies that helped them regain the lead. Meyers Leonard hit a 3-pointer with under a minute to play that tied the game at 38-38 at the half.

Memphis led by three prior to the midway point of the third when Portland ended the frame on a 22-6 surge. Blake canned three triples in the final 1:33 to lead the charge and give the hosts a 77-64 lead entering the fourth.

Game Notes

The Blazers honored the late Jerome Kersey by playing a rendition of his national anthem sung along with Andy Stokes in 1989 ... Memphis scored 19 points off 15 turnovers ... There were 13 lead changes and 10 ties ... Blake scored 13 points on 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc ... The Blazers went 13-of-33 from 3-point range, while Memphis made 3-of-9 attempts from deep ... The Grizzlies owned a 54-26 edge in the paint.